Alive and Kicking!

If you listen to the hype. The record industry is dead. No one is making good music anymore. It's impossible to get a record deal.( okay- well that's what's holding me back) iTunes killed Tower Records. Metallica hates music fans... etc.

The thing is this is going to be a great fall. I'm stoked. There are a ton of good records ( I still call them that, you can buy vinyl, or CD's if you want. I generally buy everything online, but I still call them records. Bands make records.) coming out or out now.

Here are a few that I'm waiting for, or that are out and I think you should buy.

Bruce Springsteen

Duran Duran

Dashboard Confessional

Pat Monahan

Counting Crows

Kanye West

Jay Z

Eddie Vedder

LCD Soundsystem

Maybe later when I'm not busy, I'l tell you about them.

Gin Hahn,

T

Star Wars Fan?

You will find this funny.

Gin Hahn,

T

Glad I'm not...

1. A Portland Trailblazers fan. 

Number one pick in the draft, energizes the city and gets them to rally around the home team. Out for the season before training camp.

2. A Patriots fan.

If they have any sense in New England, they'll ban cameras in the stadium so that they don't get themselves into any more trouble. Because they weren't cheating, just planning on it later.

3. You

Because after the first two lame ass items, you're still here reading. Don't you have something better to do with your time? Clearly I'm avoiding work at the moment.

3. The "Leave Britney Alone" Guy

Because this won't make you  a movie star, if you're career goes well  we'll be seeing you in gay porn... okay I won't, but someone will. (I apologize for posting this link- I'm usually a bit hipper than this, but if I left it off, I'd feel responsible for you not having to watch it.)

4. The next President of the United States

Because your administration has already  been assfucked by  GWBush. (Sorry for the extra gay reference, but as they say... if the dick fits.... no that's not it, When in Rome.... well, you know what I mean.)

5. 50 Cent

Because the white kids like Kanye better. Even though that AYO Technology song is dope.

6. Britney's Belly

Like my johnson, it's really not that big. But people sure like to talk about it.

7. K-Fed

Because the system is screwed. From a distance, he clearly has a better chance of being a responsible parent at the moment. But he's the dad and in the words of Sting ...

"The park is full of Sunday fathers and melted ice cream
We try to do the best within the given time
A kid should be with his mother
Everybody knows that
What can a father do but baby-sit sometimes?"

8. Perez Hilton

Since we have a theme show today. This fat, lame ass has been is showing up everywhere. I don't care what he has to say. I have nothing against fat people. Its lame people that I hate.

Wait- What if they had a celebrity version of American Idol, but instead of singing, they rapped. Sounds like a shitty idea that no celebrities would sign up for, and no one would watch. Holy Shit! I wasn't dreaming like I was when I thought that some bad tv commercials are too short so they should make 1/2 hour sitcom's out of them ( Caveman ) They really have one of those shows, only the only "celebrities" they could find are Perez Hilton and the not-hot/not-smart one of hef's girlfriends. Which to the rest of us means DON'T WATCH SO YOU THINK YOU WHO WANTS TO BE A CELEBUTARD WRAPPER! You will bleed from your eyes and ears.

9. My "friend" John

You play guitar like a motherfucker. That being said, the new girl is way hotter than that muppet you were dating for the publicity, but as funny as the new chick is, at the end of the day, she just lays there and worries about messing her hair up. That's why it didn't work between her and I. John, I know you'll have the same demise. For christ sakes, she tried to pretend that it wasn't her. That was the last time she had any fun. I guess the "industry makes you jaded."

GHFN-

T

Traveling again

But I'm back now, so I'll drop a few posts in as I get a chance.

Anything in particular you'd like me to talk about?

Gin Hahn,

T

1,000 miles

My friend asked the other day for an update on the "motorcycle experiment."

As of this week, I have passed the 1,000 mile mark. So it seems like a good time to determine if the bike is breaking even yet.

I spent $800 on the bike. And I've rode it 1,000 miles - lets say that's 1,ooo a didn't put on my car.

Cost of 1,000 miles in gas at 25 mpg and $3.00 a gallon = About $120

Lets assume the bike get 50mpg (It might be a bit higher - I only spend about $5 a week.) so the gas saving there is $60.

Cost to park  a car- $14 a day x 4 days a week x 11 weeks $616 (not counting overages- they charge more if you are there for more than 10 hours, it kicks up to about $20, and happens at least once a week but we won't count it yet.)

Cost to park a bike $5 a day x 4 days a week x 11 weeks = $220 (and no overages) So the parking saving is....$396

So all in all, I've saved about $450, not bad for a guy who generally spends lots and saves very little. And considering we have 1 maybe 2 more months of decent riding weather, I may get to the $800 yet.

Also, you can't put a $ value on how much I'm enjoying it. Or how cool it makes me :)

Gin Hahn,

T

The Boss is Back!

Okay, one of the many things that I can be made fun of is my love for Bruce Springsteen. I've been a fan for longer than I care to admit. ( still I feel like I missed some of the best days) I buy all his records. Even the videos. Even the ones I don't like all that much. Then of course there are others that I can still listen to 15-20 years later and still enjoy, and find something new in.

Many of the tunes have been my soundtrack songs. You know, those songs you listen too to get you through a tough time, or remind you of a good time. (Thunder Road, Lucky Town, One Step Up, 57 Channels and Nothing on... okay not really that one, just seeing if you we're reading or skimming-- I hilighted my favorite versions of those for you from the store.)

Good News! Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band have an album coming out October 2. Better news. They're doing a world tour together. If you get the chance. Go. If they come to your town, see them. You don't have to be  a fan, but you will be rewarded. His past tours with the E Street Band have been like a good old time rock and roll religious tent revival. I'm not sure what that is either, but one thing is certain, you walk out of there feeling like you were just baptized with 20,000 of your closest friends.

Anyway, this week only you can get the single from the new album free on iTunes. I don't love the tune. But I'll bet you your ticket price that I'll love it after seeing it live. 

In the mean time, if you are a Bruce fan like me, and passed over the latest folksy stuff, give the new Live in Dublin album a shot. There are some really good tracks on it.

Gin Hahn,

T

I Wanna Be a RockStar

Do you see me in this video?

Or maybe you?

I can't get this song out of my head, which drives me crazy because in general I find this band extremely annoying.

When they came on the radio (okay Sirius Satellite Radio) I used to shout. "I want my Nickel BACK!"

Now, I find myself shouting.... "I want my Nickelback!

Gin Hahn,

T

Sorry, I'm back.

Apologies for not posting much lately. I was traveling.

I had to visit Milwaukee on a press check for work. My lovely ICE came along and we made a weekend in Chicago out of it. I got back and was so swamped with work, I rarely checked my personal email, let alone visited the net, or my blog.

I'm certain there was tons for me to write about that's gone on lately in the rest of the world, but I really haven't paid that much attention so for the moment- I'll skip that stuff.

In Chicago, we had terrible weather, but we still discovered a few gems. 

They were filming the new Batman movie across the street from our hotel, I saw a Gotham police car- that was kinda cool.

We ate at a cool place called Bin 36 which was really a lot of fun. If you live in the Seattle area, think Purple, but with better service, more wines, a sports bar, and retail store too. If you are from someplace else, then I'll say visit Chi-town and hit Bin 36.

We tried to go to the cool art museum, but it was seriously raining, and we didn't bring rain coats, and there was absolutely no way that we could get from the car to the front door without looking like we just got out of the shower with our clothes on, so we didn't make it. (Good to have a reason to go back)

BTW- if you are over 5 foot 7 and they offer to upgrade your car rental to the convertible PT Cruiser, just say no.

Hmmm, appears that I'm in a rambling mood.

Michael Vick? I'm not really a "pet person" but I was thinking maybe they should just toss him in the ring with the dogs, just once. And I'm glad that I'm not Stephon Marbury's PR guy. Sure he gets prop's for $10 shoes, bet dude... just say no comment.

And just exactly how did they decide on 82 mins? Not 84 or 63, but 82. Did she even have a chance to get into her cell in that amount of time?

Apple is selling refurbished iPhones for $100 less than the others. Over the years I have purchased many refurbished items from Apple. Will this be another?

Gotta run...

Gin Hahn,

T

At least Hooters is honest

They understand and call it a swimsuit pageant. The people at Miss Teen USA will try to tell you its all about scholarships, etc. If its about scholarships, then why was this brainiac third-runner up? I don't think there is really anything more for me to say. The video speaks for itself.

Gin Hahn,

T

Your music, only in a different order

Here''s a cool- free toy to try.

Go over to thefilter.com and download and install their software. Once its loaded, select three songs you like in iTunes and tell it to make a playlist. It will go to YOUR iTunes library and make a playlist for you. It's great. The first time I tried it, Gold! Second time, Gold.

The filter Rocks,

Gin Hahn,

T